Water Polo WA is proud to announce the launch of the Water Polo WA Performance Program (WAPP), made possible through a significant investment and partnership with Water Polo Australia (WPA).

The new initiative represents an important step forward in strengthening the high-performance pathway in Western Australia and will see the establishment of dedicated male and female performance programs, designed to identify, develop and support the next generation of WA athletes aspiring to national and international success.

The WAPP has been developed to strengthen the athlete pathway from state level participation through to national team representation. Through enhanced coaching, athlete support and alignment with national performance priorities, the program aims to create a sustainable environment for WA athletes to achieve success at the highest levels of the sport.

Leading the respective programs will be two highly respective and experienced coaches:

Georgina Kovacs-Muller – Women’s Program Lead

Georgina Kovacs-Muller is a highly regarded high-performance coach with extensive experience across pathways and elite environments. A former head coach of the WAIs Women’s Water Polo Program and a National Age Group coach with WPA, Georgina has played a key role in the development of emerging athletes across Australia. She was selected as a part of the AIS’s Performance Coach Program in 2016 & 2017 as well as the prestigious Elevate Women Coaches Program and has been recognised nationally for her contribution to coaching excellence, including being named WPA’s Performance Coach of the Year in 2023. In 2024 Kovacs-Muller was the head coach of the bronze winning U16 Girls World Championship team which competed in Turkey.

Andrei Kovalenko – Men’s Program Lead

Andrei Kovalenko brings an exceptional level of international and domestic experience to the role. A three-time Olympian, Kovalenko competed at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in Barcelona in 1992. ‘Kova’ has been a longstanding figure in Western Australian water polo and is widely recognised for his work in athlete development and high-performance coaching, with his experience spanning state and national pathway programs, with significant water polo relationships across the globe.

Supporting the WAPP will be additional assistant and development coaches, as well as the involvement of WPA’s National Development Leads throughout the program’s delivery. Additionally, the WAPP will support the development of WA Club coaches with opportunities to engage in the Program to support their upskilling and to strengthen the capacity of our Clubs.

Water Polo WA CEO, Natalie Butler “This is a significant milestone for water polo in Western Australia. The support from Water Polo Australia enables us to invest directly into our athlete pathway and create a performance environment that gives our athletes the best opportunity to achieve their potential.

To have coaches of the calibre of Georgina and Andrei leading these programs is an outstanding outcome. Their experience, knowledge and commitment to athlete development will be invaluable as we build a stronger and more connected performance pathways for WA athletes.”